Home Gym Guides
Expert advice, honest comparisons, and practical guides to help you build a better home gym.
New to home gym building?
Start with our complete beginner guide. Everything you need to know about building your first home gym on a budget.
Setup Guides
Complete setups for different budgets and spaces
How Much Does a Home Gym Cost UK? (2026 Budget Guide)
How much does a home gym cost in the UK? Budget: £250-350. Mid-range: £800-1,200. Garage gym: £2,000-3,500. Real prices with product picks at every tier.
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Home Gym on a Budget: Complete UK Guide
Best home gym budget UK plan: PROIRON dumbbells (£80) + Mirafit bench (£150) + pull-up bar = £320 fully equipped. Phased month-by-month buying plan included.
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Best Workout Playlists on Amazon Music (and the Gear to Listen on)
The best workout playlists Amazon Music offers: Power Hour for lifting, Cardio Hits for HIIT. Plus the best home gym speakers and earbuds to hear them.
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Home Gym for Small Spaces: UK Apartment Guide
MuscleSquad dumbbells are the best small space home gym pick at 42cm wide. Add a foldable bench and resistance bands for a complete flat-friendly setup under £350.
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Garage Gym Setup: Complete UK Guide
Flooring before equipment: that's the garage gym setup mistake most people make. Rubber tiles (£100), rack (£150), barbell (£200). Full UK build guide inside.
Read guide →Comparisons
Head-to-head comparisons of popular equipment
Treadmill vs Elliptical: Which is Better for Home Gyms?
Treadmill vs elliptical: the elliptical is the smarter default — zero joint impact, quieter in flats, and cheaper. The treadmill only wins for dedicated outdoor runners.
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Peloton Bike vs NordicTrack S22i 2026
In the Peloton Bike vs NordicTrack S22i matchup, the S22i wins for most buyers — incline, hybrid pedals, 12-month iFIT included. Peloton wins on community.
Read guide →Free Weights vs Machines: Which is Better for Home Gyms?
Free weights vs machines for home gyms: free weights win on cost, versatility, and functional strength. A £200 dumbbell set beats 10 machines for most buyers.
Read guide →Peloton Bike vs Bike+ 2026
Peloton Bike vs Bike Plus: the standard Bike is enough for most — same classes, same leaderboard, £850 saved. Bike Plus only wins for Power Zone training.
Read guide →Barbell vs Dumbbells: Which Should You Buy First?
Barbell vs dumbbells for home gyms: dumbbells win for most beginners — versatile, safe, no rack needed. Barbell when you're ready to squat and deadlift heavy.
Read guide →Kettlebell vs Dumbbell: Which is Better?
In the kettlebell vs dumbbell debate, dumbbells win for beginners — more versatile, easier to learn. Add a kettlebell once the basics are mastered. Both from £230.
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Home Gym vs Gym Membership: UK Cost Analysis
Home gym vs gym membership verdict: a £500 home gym pays for itself in 10 months at the UK's £48/month average. Full cost breakdown including the hidden fees.
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Rowing Machine vs Exercise Bike: Which is Better?
Rowing machine vs exercise bike: most end up using the rower — it works 86% of muscles and stays more engaging. The bike wins when quiet and compact matters most.
Read guide →How-To Guides
Training tips and equipment setup
Buying Guides
Best picks for specific needs and budgets
Best Home Gym Equipment UK 2026
PowerBlock + Mirafit bench is the best home gym equipment UK setup for most buyers. Three budget tiers from £200 — 12 products ranked and compared.
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Best Treadmills UK 2026
JLL T350 (£399) is the best treadmill UK value pick with a 5-year motor warranty. NordicTrack EXP 7i (£699) for smart features. Sole F63 (£999) for runners.
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Best Elliptical Cross Trainers UK 2026
JLL CT300 (£259) is the best elliptical cross trainer UK budget pick. Marcy C80 (£349) for genuine stride. Reebok GX50 (£549) for serious training. Three compared.
Read guide →Best Adjustable Dumbbells UK 2026
MuscleSquad 32.5kg (£200) wins the best adjustable dumbbells UK value test. PowerBlock Elite for serious lifters. Five sets compared by weight range and build.
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Best Resistance Bands UK 2026
The best resistance bands UK by type: Gritin (£9) for loops, BOB AND BRAD (£25) for full-body tube work, Victorem (£16) for glutes. All three compared.
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Best Exercise Bikes UK 2026
JLL IC200 at £150 wins the best exercise bike UK budget test. JLL IC300 at £250 for serious training. Peloton alternatives that save £1,000+ are included.
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Best Pull Up Bars UK 2026
AmazeFan multi-grip (£35) is the best pull up bar UK all-round pick. Iron Gym Original (£25) for the classic. JX Fitness (£20) for budget. Three bars compared.
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Best Home Gym Flooring UK 2026
The best home gym flooring UK: EVA foam (from £50) for cardio, rubber-top hybrid (£55) for mixed training, rubber crumb (£25/m²) for heavy racks. Three types.
Read guide →Best Rowing Machines UK 2026
Concept2 RowErg wins the best rowing machine UK performance test but costs £1,000. Dripex magnetic at £250 for quiet flats. Air, magnetic, water types compared.
Read guide →Best Barbells UK 2026
BodyPower Olympic bar (~£80) is the best barbell UK starter pick. Mirafit M3 20kg (~£140) for serious lifting. Budget to performance barbells compared.
Read guide →Best Weight Benches UK 2026
Mirafit M150 (£150) leads the best weight bench UK test with 300kg capacity. Budget foldable from £90, heavy-duty FID at £280. Five benches compared.
Read guide →Nike Adjustable Dumbbells Review 2026
Nike adjustable dumbbells review: 10-65 lb cast iron at $899/pair. Solid build, but PowerBlock and NordicTrack match the performance for half the price.
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Best Kettlebells UK 2026
The best kettlebells UK pick: Amazon Basics at £30 for starters, Yes4All at £50 for serious training. Cast iron, competition, and adjustable types compared.
Read guide →Best Power Racks UK 2026
Mirafit M1 is the best power rack UK buy at £150: 250kg capacity, dip bars included. Compare squat racks to full cages. Every budget from £100 to £500.
Read guide →US Guides
Same expert research, with US pricing, retailers, and product availability.
Setup Guides
Home Gym on a Budget: Complete Guide
Best home gym budget plan: Yes4All dumbbells ($89) + bench ($99) + pull-up bar ($35) = $223 complete. Month-by-month buying plan for building a proper setup.
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Garage Gym Setup 2026 | Complete Build Guide
Flooring first: the most common garage gym setup mistake. Rubber mats, rack, barbell, bench. Full step-by-step build guide with layout and budget from $1,600.
Read guide →Home Gym for Small Spaces: Apartment Guide
PowerBlock Elite is the best small space home gym pick — fits anywhere. Add a foldable bench and bands for complete strength training in under 10 sq ft, $633 total.
Read guide →Comparisons
Kettlebell vs Dumbbell 2026 | Which is Better?
The kettlebell vs dumbbell verdict: dumbbells first for beginners — more versatile. Add a 35 lb kettlebell once the basics are solid. Both from $280 total.
Read guide →Home Gym vs Gym Membership: Cost Analysis
Home gym vs gym membership verdict: a $600 home gym pays for itself in 10 months vs the $720/year US average. Full cost breakdown including the hidden fees.
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Rowing Machine vs Exercise Bike 2026 | Which is Better?
Rowing machine vs exercise bike: most end up using the rower — it works 86% of muscles and stays more engaging. The bike wins when quiet and compact matters most.
Read guide →BowFlex SelectTech 552 vs PowerBlock Elite 2026
The BowFlex SelectTech 552 vs PowerBlock debate is settled: the 552 was recalled in 2025 (3.8M units). PowerBlock Elite EXP is the best replacement to buy now.
Read guide →Concept2 RowErg vs NordicTrack RW900 2026
Concept2 RowErg vs NordicTrack RW900: Concept2 wins for most buyers — no subscription, lower total cost, folds for storage. NordicTrack for class-driven rowers only.
Read guide →Buying Guides
Best Treadmills 2026
The best treadmill for home use: NordicTrack T 6.5S at $649 for budget, ProForm Pro 2000 at $1,099 for incline, Commercial 1750 at $1,799 for runners.
Read guide →Best Home Gym Equipment 2026
PowerBlock Elite ($499) + adjustable bench ($179) is the best home gym equipment setup for most buyers. 12 products from $99–$1,200 compared and ranked.
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Best Resistance Bands 2026
The best resistance bands by type: Fit Simplify loops at $10 for beginners, TheFitLife tubes at $25 for full-body, Tribe fabric at $20 for glutes. Compared.
Read guide →Best Elliptical Machines 2026
Schwinn 430 ($599) wins the best elliptical machine value test with 22 resistance levels. Schwinn 470 for power incline. NordicTrack FS14i for 3-in-1 training.
Read guide →Best Pull Up Bars 2026
AmazeFan multi-grip ($35) wins the best pull up bar test for all-round use. DMoose no-screw ($25) for budget. Both fit standard doors — no drilling, no damage.
Read guide →Best Adjustable Dumbbells 2026
The best adjustable dumbbells compared: PowerBlock Elite at $499 for speed, Bowflex SelectTech at $349 for ergonomics, Yes4All at $89 for tight budgets.
Read guide →Best Exercise Bikes 2026
The best exercise bike for home gyms: Sunny Health SF-B1002 at $199 for budget, Schwinn IC4 at $799 for serious training. Peloton alternatives that save $1000+.
Read guide →Best Weight Benches 2026
REP AB-3000 ($299) is the best weight bench for most home gyms — adjustable, stable, 1,000+ lb rating. Budget foldable at $99, heavy-duty at $350. Five compared.
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Best Rowing Machines 2026
Concept2 RowErg ($1,099) wins the best rowing machine test for gym-standard performance. Dripex magnetic ($279) for quiet apartments. Three resistance types compared.
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Best Kettlebells 2026
The best kettlebells for home gyms: Amazon Basics at $35 for starters, Yes4All at $50 for serious training. Cast iron, competition, adjustable types compared.
Read guide →Best Power Racks 2026
Titan T-2 ($299) is the best power rack value buy with 700 lb capacity. REP PR-4000 for serious lifters. Squat racks vs full cages compared from $200 to $600.
Read guide →Find Your Perfect Equipment
Browse our expert guides for racks, barbells, plates, benches, and more.
View Beginner Guide